Improvement in paper-piles



and G G, and hinged side braces H H.

i S'rA'res 'PATENT OFFICE.

n. w. WOODRUFF AND G. o. GREEN, or WASHINGTON, D. o.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAPER-FILES.

Specification for/ming part of Letters Patent No. 76,872, dated April 14, 1868.

To all whom t may concern.' Be it known that we, EDMUND W. WOOD- RUFF and GEO. C. GREEN, of Washington lever, form a thumbpiece.

city, District of Columbia, have invented certain improvements in Paper-Files and the following is a full, clear, exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings. f A

The object of our, invention is to provide a convenient file for holding papers and similar articles, which, when not in use, can be folded together so as to occupy but a small space.

Uur invention consists in constructing a file for holding papers, in which thel'several parts are jointed or so joined together as that, when not in use, it can be collapsed or folded up.

To enable others to make and use `our im proved ile, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation, ref'errin g byletters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view oi' the file when folded together. Fig. 2 is a perspective view Ot' the tile when inuse, with the papers compressed. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the le, showing the papersL released. Fig. 4 is a side elevationioi' the tile, showing the position of the lever-clamp and file-board, whenopen.- ed for iilling with papers. Fig. 5 is a side" view of the lever clamp detached. Fig. 6 is a rear'view of the same. Fig; 7 is a sectional view oi' the slotted plate.

The several parts of which the le is composed are a board or plate, A, another board or plate, B,.and a thirdv board or plate, C, a levenclamp, D, a slotted plate, E, hinges FF The board' or plate A may be made of any desired dimensions, so as to suit the especial purpose for which the file may be intended. The board or plate B may be of the sanie width as plate A, but shouldnot be as long. It is attached to plate A by means of the hinges G G, in such a manner that the two may be folded together, or when opened form a right angle. The tile-board C should be of less width l and length than plate B. At-or about the center of this the lever-clamp D is attached by means ofthe pieces F F. The lever-clamp D isk made as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The

f upper end is T-shaped, and is made to work in the pieces Fl F, which, with them1 forms a hinge. The lower end has four lugs, a aand b b, upon it, tw'o on each side. The two upper ones,a a, together with the base of the E is of metal, and is ribbed on the under side, so as to give strength with lightness. At each end are pieces c c, which are attached to it transversely, which, while they secure the plate to the board A, strengthen the saine. The slotted plate E is fitted into'board A, so as to be flush withits surface. A space is left between it and the board A, so as to allow the Y lugs b I) of the lever-clamp to passfreely. The slot runs the entire length of the plate, and is of such width that the leverclanip D will slide freely in it when desired. At the inner end it is widened to adniitthe lower lugs b b of the lever-clamp D. At the outer end it is so constructed that the lever-clamp will not come out, butwill turn back, as shown in Fig. 4, or forward, as shown in Fig. 1. The side braces or staysH 'H are of metal, and have a knuckle-joint hinge, at or about the center. The ends of the braces are attached on the sides and at the outer ends ot' the plates A and B, in such a manner as that, when openfthey form a support to them. At the saine time they answer to keep the papers in place; but when the plates fold together, the braces fold with them.

To unfold the tile for use, the' file-board C. and lever-clamp D are raised to a perpendienlar; vthen the plate B is raised, and the hin gebraces H H are straightened, when it, with the plate A, forms a right angle. The tile is then placed as shown in Fig. 4, with the illeboard C turned back. Then thel papers can` be placed within the tile, and the file-board is hrought-agalst them, when the clamp' holds them in place, as shown in Fig. 2. To loosen them, it is only necessary to press the upper end of the tile-board toward thepapers, which releases the clamp.

It will be seen that the size of the papertile may be varied, so as to contain documents and papers of any form or dimensions. It may be made of wood or metal, in any convenient form to combine strength with lightness.

Being constructed so as to fold up, it consequently occupies but little room when not in use, thus economizing space andfacilitating The slotted plate' transm'rtaiaion .and yeh, `when in use, it js werdr or forward. for the purposes specified, strong,(1nrable,;and not liable to get; out of without beingldebached from the file, substanorder. tially as shown.

Having thas described our invention, what; '3. Attaching the tile-board to the .lever- `we claim as new, :md` desire to' secure by Letclamp with a hinge, or its equivalent, substanters Patelnt, is--fA tially as shown.

1. A fi e for holding papers or other similar articles, with hinged joints, so that it may'be DGVTOODRUFF' folded together when not in usesnbstantially as set Torth. Witnesses:

2. A papel-Jim, vwith the clamping' device so C. H. SLIERQ arranged that the clamp-lever will turn back- WM.' N. COULSEN.. 

